PHOTO ESSAY: A young trans woman's journey, and her latest destination: World Pride in Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) — As they get ready in their hotel room, Bella Bautista trades makeup tips with the roommate she has just met.

Bautista, her cheekbones high and her confidence glowing, asks her roommate to curl her highlighted hair in the back. Jae Douglas obliges cheerfully.

Bautista, 22, is a college cheerleader turned pageant contestant. Last month, she competed in the Miss Supranational USA pageant in Miami, representing Tennessee. She hails from Cartersville, a small Georgia town north of Atlanta. She works as a social media intern for the Global Trans Equity Project.

She has come to Washington, D.C., to attend World Pride activities in the wake of the Trump administration’s policies legislating against gender-affirming care and its rhetoric against transgender girls in sports. During a speech she delivers to the trans community she announces what could be the anthem for her audience: “I'm not asking for permission to be who I am, I am who I am.”

Bautista says she is the first and only transgender woman to compete in the Miss Supranational pageant. It is part of a lengthier process of embracing her identity — both within herself and to the world.

Marching in an impending rain with a hundred others from the National Trans Visibility March, en route to the Lincoln Memorial to join the World Pride rally, Bella reflected, “I’m not fighting for myself anymore. I’m fighting for a larger cause alongside other people, which is good for a change. You know, being the only transgender person from my small town, it’s different to be in the capital of the USA. But so many people that are also fighting alongside with me are here, and have that same struggle.”

“In previous years, I felt more compelled to live my life stealth,” Bautista says. “But with everything going on with the current administration, I felt the need to give an actual face to the issue.”

And so she has come to World Pride, determined to be present and to fly the flag of who she is.

When Bautista transitioned during her senior year of high school in 2020, there were many pro-Trump demonstrations by students at her school during school hours. So she started a “diversity club” to create a safe place for LGBTQ+ students and students of color.

“I came out to my mom when I was 13, and I asked her, “Am I a girl?′ She said she didn’t know — ‘That’s something we need to look into.’ I didn’t know what being trans meant or anything like that. I’ve always been flexible with my gender and sexuality.”

Puberty was an upsetting time for her, before she was able to access gender-affirming care. “Having male hormones in my body gave me a lot of anxiety, dysphoria. And I felt that testosterone was going to destroy my body,” she says. With her family’s assent, she ordered hormones online and medically transitioned at 17, during her senior year.

As a gamer, she chose the name “Bella” online. It stuck.

“When I went to college I chose that name and told people, ‘Hi, I am Bella, I’m a woman.’ And I was stealth. No one on campus knew I was trans at the start. I just really wanted to live a normal college life, be a normal college girl.”

But things changed during her second year at college. She awakened to all the “harmful stereotypes” — and realized she could use them to help others.

“People would say that I don’t look trans, I don’t sound trans, so for me to be openly trans, it gives people more perspective,” she says. “I’m a normal college girl. I’m a cheerleader. This is what I look and sound like. It really resonates with both political parties.”

This past winter, she decided to testify at the Georgia State Capitol about her experience as a young trans woman athlete. It was illuminating for her.

“I had to speak in front of Republican members and I would run into them in the hallways or the elevators, or outside the bathroom, and they’d say, ’Oh, you’re testifying against my bill but you’re amazing, I loved your speech. Politicians politicize trans rights to gain votes. A big part of my platform is saying that my trans identify is not a political agenda for either side.”

She later began an organization called “This Does Not Define Me,” referring to her experiences with PTSD, a speech impediment, being Mexican American and fighting trans stereotypes. The organization is about visibility — and a sense that the challenges faced by people, especially within the trans community, shouldn’t define them.

“I hope that as more people meet me I put them at ease,” she says, “and I get more empathy for the trans community. As people have more interactions with trans people they’ll realize we are just normal people, with dreams, and this just happens to be my story.”

Bautista’s own journey has defined her in many ways, though, including her professional aspirations. She hopes to become a civil rights attorney, to stand up for marginalized people, and someday to run for public office in Georgia.

That’s later, though. Now, in a climate that doesn’t always accept people like her, there is power in just being who she is.

“I think the most powerful thing that I can do right now as a young trans woman is to educate the populace that this is my experience and that I am so much more than just being trans.”

Back at the hotel, ahead of attending a conference for the National Trans Visibility March, Bautista has Douglas take a video of her striding through the lobby in a gold gown. It’s for her Instagram feed. A family with two young children stops her. “Are you a model? Where may we have seen you before?” Bella smiles demurely and says, “Oh, I’m a pageant girl.”

She turns to a visitor. “I get that a lot,” she says.

Coming to World Pride from a hometown where she’s the only trans person is raising some questions for Bautista. Is allyship enough? Are gay members of the community fully backing trans rights? “It really feels like it’s LGB and then T,” she says. “We are going through so much. I am hoping these people waving the gay flag are also considering what we are going through at this time.”

Add onto that her identity as a Mexican woman and — with the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown on many fronts — there is still more she wants to advocate. So much more to do.

Bella Bautista was silent for a while. No longer.

“It feels good to represent … something bigger and to be proud of that,” she says.

“I kind of want to be like, ‘I’m here,’ you know?” she says. “I’m just a normal college girl, I’m a cheerleader, I do pageants, and I happen to be trans, but that does not define my ability to succeed. Being trans is part of who I am, but I still deserve access to those dreams.”

This is a documentary photo story curated by AP photo editors.

Jacquelyn Martin is an Associated Press photographer based in Washington.

Bella Bautista, 22, a trans woman, second from left, sits outside the Human Rights Campaign by a sign that says "equality" after attending an awards ceremony for the National Trans Visibility March, at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters, during World Pride, Friday, June 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, left, a trans woman, has dinner with Marissa Miller, Founder of the National Trans Visibility March (NTVM) and a trans woman, center, and Elijah Nicholas, DBA, who is Lead Strategy Director of NTVM, and a trans man, at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at a dinner for strategic organizers of the march, during World Pride. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, a trans woman, arrives for the Capitol Pride Awards, during World Pride, Thursday, June 5, 2025, at the Building Museum in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Gabriel Faith, of Newark, N.J., makes a sign during a pre-rally for the National Trans Visibility March, at the Human Rights Campaign, before marching to join the World Pride Rally on the National Mall, Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, right, a trans woman, adjusts the trans pride flags in the hair of trans femme Jae Douglas, 21, as they head toward a concert for World Pride, Saturday, June 7, 2025, by the U.S. Capitol on the National Mall in Washington. (Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, right, a trans woman, has a photo taken with Rep. Sarah McBride, D-Del., the first trans woman to be a member of Congress, during a reception held by the Christopher Project, a trans rights organization, after the Human Rights Conference during World Pride, Thursday, June 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Marion F., left, and her partner Jessie G., embrace as they listen to speakers during a pre-rally with the National Trans Visibility March, held at the Human Rights Campaign, before marching to join the World Pride Rally on the National Mall, Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, a trans woman, speaks during a pre-rally with the National Trans Visibility March, held at the Human Rights Campaign, before marching to join the World Pride Rally on the National Mall, Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, third from left, a trans woman, walks on the stage with fellow contestants as her portrait is displayed during the Miss Supranational USA pageant, Saturday, May 17, 2025, in Miami. Bautista says she is the first trans woman to compete in this pageant. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Bella Bautista, 22, center, a trans woman, talks with a man who complimented her outfit, left, and Beyonce Black St. James, of Spokane, Wash., who is Miss Trans USA, right, during the Capitol Pride Awards during World Pride, Thursday, June 5, 2025, at the Building Museum in Washington. (Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, a trans woman, attends an awards ceremony for the National Trans Visibility March, at the Human Rights Campaign headquarters, during World Pride, Friday, June 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Jae Douglas, 21, a trans femme from Tallahassee, Fla., right, helps Bella Bautista, 22, left, a trans woman, curl her hair in their hotel room in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, June 4, 2025, as the roommates prepare to attend a dinner for strategic organizers of the National Trans Visibility March, during World Pride. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, a trans woman, does her makeup in her hotel room in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, June 4, 2025, ahead of attending a dinner for strategic organizers of the National Trans Visibility March, during World Pride. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, third from left, a trans woman, poses with other contestants during a photo session for the Miss Supranational USA pageant, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Miami. Bautista says she is the first trans woman to compete in this pageant. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Bella Bautista, 22, left, a trans woman, works with director Magali Febles during a photo session for the Miss Supranational USA pageant, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Miami. Bautista says she is the first trans woman to compete in this pageant. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Bella Bautista, 22, a trans woman, attends a concert during World Pride, Saturday, June 7, 2025, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, a trans woman, walks into the women's bathroom during a concert at World Pride, Saturday, June 7, 2025, on the National Mall in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

After marching with the National Trans Visibility March, Bella Bautista, 22, a trans woman, attends the World Pride Rally on the National Mall, Sunday, June 8, 2025, with the Washington Monument in the background in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, center, a trans woman, attends the National Trans Visibility March, en route to join the World Pride Rally on the National Mall, Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

People of Iranian descent attend the World Pride Parade, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, a trans woman, attends the World Pride Parade with Jae Douglas, 21, right, who identifies as a trans femme, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Washington. A resident of Georgia, she’s wearing a sash from her time in the Miss Supranational USA pageant, in which she represented Tennessee. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Bella Bautista, 22, a trans woman from Cartersville, Ga., walks past the U.S. Capitol after attending the World Pride Parade, Saturday, June 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wants to negotiate with Washington after his threat to strike the Islamic Republic over its bloody crackdown on protesters, a move coming as activists said Monday the death toll in the nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 544.

Iran had no immediate reaction to the news, which came after the foreign minister of Oman — long an interlocutor between Washington and Tehran — traveled to Iran this weekend. It also remains unclear just what Iran could promise, particularly as Trump has set strict demands over its nuclear program and its ballistic missile arsenal, which Tehran insists is crucial for its national defense.

Meanwhile Monday, Iran called for pro-government demonstrators to head to the streets in support of the theocracy, a show of force after days of protests directly challenging the rule of 86-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state television aired chants from the crowd, who shouted “Death to America!” and “Death to Israel!”

Trump and his national security team have been weighing a range of potential responses against Iran including cyberattacks and direct strikes by the U.S. or Israel, according to two people familiar with internal White House discussions who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The military is looking at it, and we’re looking at some very strong options,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One on Sunday night. Asked about Iran’s threats of retaliation, he said: “If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they’ve never been hit before.”

Trump said that his administration was in talks to set up a meeting with Tehran, but cautioned that he may have to act first as reports of the death toll in Iran mount and the government continues to arrest protesters.

“I think they’re tired of being beat up by the United States,” Trump said. “Iran wants to negotiate.”

He added: “The meeting is being set up, but we may have to act because of what’s happening before the meeting. But a meeting is being set up. Iran called, they want to negotiate.”

Iran through country's parliamentary speaker warned Sunday that the U.S. military and Israel would be “legitimate targets” if America uses force to protect demonstrators.

More than 10,600 people also have been detained over the two weeks of protests, said the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has been accurate in previous unrest in recent years and gave the death toll. It relies on supporters in Iran crosschecking information. It said 496 of the dead were protesters and 48 were with security forces.

With the internet down in Iran and phone lines cut off, gauging the demonstrations from abroad has grown more difficult. The Associated Press has been unable to independently assess the toll. Iran’s government has not offered overall casualty figures.

Those abroad fear the information blackout is emboldening hard-liners within Iran’s security services to launch a bloody crackdown. Protesters flooded the streets in the country’s capital and its second-largest city on Saturday night into Sunday morning. Online videos purported to show more demonstrations Sunday night into Monday, with a Tehran official acknowledging them in state media.

In Tehran, a witness told the AP that the streets of the capital empty at the sunset call to prayers each night. By the Isha, or nighttime prayer, the streets are deserted.

Part of that stems from the fear of getting caught in the crackdown. Police sent the public a text message that warned: “Given the presence of terrorist groups and armed individuals in some gatherings last night and their plans to cause death, and the firm decision to not tolerate any appeasement and to deal decisively with the rioters, families are strongly advised to take care of their youth and teenagers.”

Another text, which claimed to come from the intelligence arm of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, also directly warned people not to take part in demonstrations.

“Dear parents, in view of the enemy’s plan to increase the level of naked violence and the decision to kill people, ... refrain from being on the streets and gathering in places involved in violence, and inform your children about the consequences of cooperating with terrorist mercenaries, which is an example of treason against the country,” the text warned.

The witness spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing crackdown.

The demonstrations began Dec. 28 over the collapse of the Iranian rial currency, which trades at over 1.4 million to $1, as the country’s economy is squeezed by international sanctions in part levied over its nuclear program. The protests intensified and grew into calls directly challenging Iran’s theocracy.

Nikhinson reported from aboard Air Force One.

In this frame grab from video obtained by the AP outside Iran, a masked demonstrator holds a picture of Iran's Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi during a protest in Tehran, Iran, Friday, January. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran shows protesters taking to the streets despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Friday, Jan. 9, 2026.(UGC via AP)

In this frame grab from footage circulating on social media from Iran showed protesters once again taking to the streets of Tehran despite an intensifying crackdown as the Islamic Republic remains cut off from the rest of the world in Tehran, Iran, Saturday Jan. 10, 2026. (UGC via AP)